One of only two 1959 left-handed Les Paul guitars ever made sold for $194,500 at Heritage Auction’s Vintage Guitars & Musical Instruments Signature Auction. The musical instrument is just one of four left-handed guitars from the 1,600 produced between 1958 and 1960. More than $1.24 million in sales were reported for the event that occurred on October 27, 2012.
The left-handed guitar was part of a consignment of instruments and equipment from the United States Marshals Service to benefit the victims defrauded of funds from the Aspen Energy Oil and Gas Investment scheme.
Another lefty guitar, a 1960 Gibson Les Paul sold for $134,000. The instrument is only one of two that exists. Sir Paul McCartney owns the other one.
“The 1959 left-handed ‘burst is about as rare, and famous, as any guitar in the world,” said Mike Gutierrez, consignment director at Heritage Auctions. "Collectors came after it in a very serious way, resulting in the almost $200,000 price [it] realized. That enthusiasm translated to the rest of the offerings in the auction, as well, resulting in a 96.5 percent sell-through rate by total value.”
Other noteworthy sales of the auction include a 1956 Stratocaster Sunburst Solid Body electric guitar that sold for $30,000, and a 1953 Fender Esquire Butterscotch Blonde Solid body electric guitar that fetched $23,125.
